We are now in the swing of the Book Festival! It unofficially started on Thursday night (14th) with the opening of the Secret Postcard show! So many epic postcards and sculptures were unveiled. I managed to get in before anybody else and I was wowed by them all. Every year, people all over design a postcard and they are sold and all proceeds are donated to a different charity each year. It will stay open until 24th November, so don’t miss out!

On a rainy Friday 15th, we had the grand opening of the festival! The Christmas Lights! This year Ben Okri turned them on, I was running late because of mini-me’s swimming lesson but I got there and (Sharon at work, let me use her photos!) saw the lights and plus you had all the shop windows competing for the best displays!

I wasn’t able to go to the events over the weekend but I have been able to share some of the photos with you!

First we had Ben Okri and his talk Prayer for the Living.(This was Penni’s pick from the Staff Pick Post)

Photo Credit to Philip Panting.

We closed Friday over at the Tin Tabernacle, a showing of the First Reformed was being held starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried, written and directed by Paul Schrader, from what I have heard it is quite dark and gritty. I am actually going to live link-up tonight at 6pm! Tickets are still available here.

We kicked off on Saturday 16th, with something different! Strange Concords Words and Music, this was USA & Russia. We had Saskia Giorgini (winner of the 2016 International Mozart Competition in Salzburg) performing whilst Robert Glenister read poetry from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. I have heard it was magical! (This was Laura and Lauren’s pick in the Staff Pick Post)

Photo Credit to Philip Panting.

Back over at the Quarterhouse, Caroline Lucas took the stage to discuss The Future is Green. She served as a leader of the Green Party and has written a book Honourable Friends? : Parliament and the Fight for Change.(This is Michelle’s picks from the Staff Pick Post)

Photo Credit to Philip Panting.

We also had talks from Anthony Seldon and Isabel Hardman discussing Plan Your Exit and Carrie Gracie’s talk Equal. (This was Laura’s pick in the Staff Pick Post)We finished the day with Elif Shafak and her talk 10 minutes 38 seconds in This Strange World.(And another of Lauras picks)

That is only the Friday and Saturday! So much happened on Sunday and more today!